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Tuesday, 29 September 2015

South Australia's Weird Laws

South Australia has some unusual laws, most are
very old and may have been reasonable in their time period, but seem
out of place in this day and age. The following is just a few of them
in no specific order

Living with person of “Bad Character”

A person who is the occupier of a premises
frequented by reputed thieves, prostitutes, persons without lawful
means of support or persons of notoriously bad character is guilty of
an offence. Maximum fine $750.

Disrupting a wedding ceremony

Under the Summary Offences Act obstructing or
disturbing a wedding ceremony in South Australia can attract a fine
of up to $10,000 or two years in jail.

Asking for money or goods in a public
place

Asking or begging for money or goods is an offence
in South Australia, with fines of up to $250.

The act also includes a person going from house to
house asking for alms, encouraging children to do the same, or
exposing a wound or deformity with the objective to receive money or
goods.

Dont sell ya big Fridge!

A person must not sell
or hire, or offer or expose for sale or hire, a refrigerator, ice
chest or icebox having in it a compartment of a capacity of 42.5
litres or more unless that compartment is so constructed or equipped
that every door or lid can be opened easily from the inside of the
compartment when any lock or catch that can be operated from the
outside of the compartment is fastened. Maximum fine $750.

Gate crashing

Turning up to a party uninvited can provide unruly
and uninvited revellers with a maximum $5,000 fine or one year
imprisonment.

If a person trespasses on premises that are being
used for a private party and does not leave when requested to by the
owner or organiser, they automatically qualify for the offence.

If the person begins to behave offensively, an
extra $2,500 fine can be added.

If the name and address of the person is then
requested and the person refuses, the total maximum fine could reach
$10,000.

Placing advertising posters

Sticking advertising posters or 'bills' on the
side of buildings, structures, roads, paved surfaces or objects of
any kind without lawful authority can attract a fine of up to $2,500
or six months jail.

The person who distributes the material is guilty
of the offence unless it can be proven they took precautions to
ensure the posters were not placed illegally on property.

Poster-placers can also be made liable for removal
costs.

Drunken tattoos

Party goers are protected from waking up with 'I
love ...' tattoos the next morning under the Summary Offences Act.

Tattooists can face fines of up to $5,000 or one
year in jail for performing any kind of 'body modification' on
someone who appears intoxicated as a result of alcohol or drug
consumption.

Faking clairvoyance or medium

If a person pretends to be a clairvoyant,
spiritualist or medium, and those involved in a reading believe they
are fake, the medium can be charged under the Summary Offences Act
with fines of up to $10,000 or two years imprisonment.

Those who pretend to have powers of telepathy or
clairvoyance can be charged with the offence - those who actually can
provide the service already knew this.

Offering a 'no questions asked' reward for
the return of goods

Those posting public notices requesting the return
of lost property with 'no questions asked' or 'no prosecution' can
themselves be fined $500.

Any person who prints or publishes an
advertisement can also be guilty of the crime.

Singing A song with Profanity

A person who uses indecent or profane language or
sings any indecent or profane song or ballad in a public place or
police station is guilty of an offence.
Maximum fine $250.

Ring and run

A person who, without reasonable excuse, decides
to ring a door bell or knock on a door is guilty of wilfully
disturbing another person and can be fined up to $250.

Close you car door!

A person must not cause a hazard to any person or
vehicle by opening a door of a vehicle, leaving a door of a vehicle
open, or getting off, or out of, a vehicle.
Maximum fine $225.

Pigeon power

Homing pigeons are a law amongst themselves when
it comes to protection, with an individual clause in the Summary
Offences Act detailing those found guilty of unlawfully killing,
injuring or taking homing pigeons may face fines of up to $250.

The gate keeper

A person who opens a farm gate and leaves it open,
or in turn closes a farm gate and leaves it closed is guilty of an
offence that can attract a fine of up to $750.

All photos remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are displayed here for the purpose of education, research and review under the copyright act "fair usage" clause.

Some photo's used here on this site are sourced from The Sate Library of South Australia, and The National Library of Australia and http://www.gawler.nowandthen.net.au - all photos are out of copyright and have no usage restrictions implied.

All photos remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are displayed here for the purpose of education, research and review under the copyright act "fair usage" clause.

Some photo's used on this website are sourced from The Sate Library of South Australia, and The National Library of Australia and http://www.gawler.nowandthen.net.au - all photos are out of copyright and have no usage restrictions implied.

Top Paranormal

PANDORA

On the 7-1-2013, The Haunts of Adelaide was added to The National Library of Australia's "Pandora" archive.http://pandora.nla.gov.au/